What's the deal with art...

A subjective and interpretive creative process, mastered technique, and an unrepentant desire for self expression do not hold a high place of priority in the collective mindset. Art is an individual thing between creator and observer. Marketing entities can manipulate the degree people perceive art, but generally speaking, public funding for the arts is something more frowned on than not. Sad… really. The greatness of most previous civilizations was measured by their collective creative energies. We gauge our advancements by the quality of Super Bowl commercials. Anyway, buy something from a local artist. You probably won't find it at Wal-Mart and it will set you back a few bucks, but at least you'll have something that might stimulate conversation, thought, and purpose, maybe even rile the primitive senses. Hell, we wouldn't want that.